The use of Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs) for propeller lubrication introduces uncertainty in the shipping industry compared to traditional and polluting mineral oils, mainly due to their poor hydrolytic stability, strong viscosity-temperature and pressure dependence, and in some cases and non-Newtonian behavior. The main goal of the project is to develop a more reliable and cost-effective EAL that can address these main limitations. Two parallel approaches were chosen to achieve the goal:
- Development of new EAL based on blown rapeseed oils with improved rheological properties and resistance to hydrolysis.
- Application of selected microorganisms producing potential lubricants and finding a new lubricant formulation based on microbial preparations.
